Safety Policy

ShareWell is a platform for peer support, where individuals share their lived experiences to foster mutual connection and understanding. Engaging in peer support on ShareWell requires adherence to our safety policies, which are designed to protect our community. Violations of these policies may result in suspension from the platform. Please note that ShareWell is not a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a physician, psychiatrist, or other qualified mental health professional.

Group Rules

When participating in a peer support group on ShareWell, all members are required to follow these rules. Violating any rule may lead to removal from the group, and repeated violations may result in platform suspension.

• Be Respectful: Maintain respectful speech and conduct at all times.
• Be Present: Keep your camera on and remain visible for the entire group.
• Have Lived Experience: Attendees must have lived experience with the group topic.
• Avoid Advice: Share your experiences rather than advice, as peers are not mental health professionals.
• Maintain Confidentiality: Personal stories shared in a group should remain private and should not be shared with anyone in any form outside of the group itself.

House Rules

ShareWell is a community built on trust, support, and mutual respect. Together, we ensure our platform remains a safe, compassionate space for healing, growth, and connection. By participating, all members agree to uphold these rules across groups, chats, DMs, and all forms of interaction on the platform.

1. Be Respectful: Engage with empathy, kindness, and understanding toward all peers, regardless of their background or lived experience. Avoid judgment, harmful language, or discriminatory behavior.
2. Be Inclusive: ShareWell embraces individuals from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and lived experiences. Foster an environment where diversity is celebrated and no one feels excluded or marginalized. We stand together.
3. Foster Compassion: Actively listen, validate, and support others with kindness. Avoid targeting, degrading, or belittling other members. We create a healing environment by lifting others, not putting them down.
4. Maintain Confidentiality: Keep all personal stories and shared experiences private—both within ShareWell and outside of it. Ensure peers feel safe sharing without the worry of their stories being shared.
5. Guard the Community: Actively report any concerning behavior or language to ShareWell’s safety team. Harassment, bullying, and any predatory behavior will be swiftly reviewed and addressed. We are all on neighborhood watch and responsible for protecting the ShareWell house and our ShareWell family.
6. Avoid Advice-Giving: Share only your own experiences rather than offering solutions or advice. Remember, no one on ShareWell is acting as a mental health professional. We are here to support one another through shared understanding and empathy, not to "fix" anyone.
7. Avoid Triggering Language: Avoid using graphic or distressing language. Share from your own perspective without going into details that might affect others' emotional well-being. Give trigger warnings and ask for group consent to speak about triggering topics.
8. Avoid Sharing Contact Information: For everyone's safety, do not share personal information, such as full names, phone numbers, other contact info, or sensitive personal details. Exercise caution even in direct messages, as sharing such information can create unsafe situations outside of the platform.
9. Take Care of Yourself: Know when professional support may be necessary. If at any point you feel overwhelmed or need additional assistance, connect with ShareWell’s safety resources or your local mental health care providers for help.
10. Promote and Maintain Safety: All members must adhere to ShareWell’s Safety Policy. This is in place to ensure that our platform remains a safe and secure space for everyone. Any breaches or concerns will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.

Content Policies

ShareWell prohibits the following content:

• Dangerous Content
• Harassing Content
• Hateful Content
• Manipulated Media
• Sexually Explicit Content
• Vulgar Language
• Medical Diagnoses
• Instructive Advice

We do not tolerate offensive language or hate speech targeting individuals or groups based on attributes such as age, caste, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, nationality, race, immigration status, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, victims of major violent events and their kin, or veteran status.

If you encounter content violating these policies, please report it. Violators may face suspension, and their profiles/content will be reviewed. ShareWell reserves the right to suspend or permanently remove any user as deemed necessary.

Harassment of ShareWell employees will result in immediate and permanent suspension.

Content Posting Etiquette

• No Self-Promotion
• No Spam or Irrelevant Content
• No Sharing of Personal Contact Information: For your safety and privacy, do not publicly share personal contact information on ShareWell. Avoid disclosing full names or contact details. Connecting outside the platform can lead to unsafe communication dynamics.

Misuse of ShareWell

ShareWell is a platform designed for safe, supportive peer interactions. Misuse of the platform undermines its integrity and may result in immediate suspension or removal. Misuses include, but are not limited to:

• Account Sharing or Duplicate Accounts: For safety and accountability, accounts must remain private and individual. Sharing accounts or creating multiple accounts is strictly prohibited and will result in suspension or permanent removal from the platform.
• Inappropriate Behavior: Any behavior deemed harassing, abusive, or manipulative, whether in groups, chats, forums, or interactions with members or staff, is a violation of our community guidelines. Active substance use, including cannabis, alcohol, or other substances, is prohibited.
• Dissemination of Confidential or Misleading Information: Misrepresenting yourself or providing false information undermines trust and can lead to immediate suspension. Similarly, sharing confidential group information or personal details of other members without permission is strictly prohibited.
• Circumventing Restrictions: Attempting to bypass platform restrictions, whether imposed on groups, chat messages, or individual interactions, is a serious violation.

Situations Beyond ShareWell's Scope

ShareWell is not the correct support tool if you are experiencing the following:

• Self-Harm or Harm to Others
• Physical Danger
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Participation in or Witnessing a Crime
• Needing Medical or Psychiatric Help

If you are experiencing any of the above, please seek appropriate professional support through our additional Safety Resources.

Safety Features

Report a Post

ShareWell may remove inappropriate or offensive material at any time without notice. To report a discussion post:

• Click the three dots in the right-hand corner of the post.

• Select "Report Post" and provide your reason.

• To report a chat message:

• Click the three dots until a flag icon appears.

Select the flag icon and provide your reason. When you report a post, it undergoes immediate review by ShareWell. Based on the severity, ShareWell may notify the member in violation or suspend their account pending further review. Reporting remains anonymous.

Report a Member

If a member violates community guidelines or exhibits concerning behavior, report them anonymously. To report:

• During a group: Click the participant's photo and select "Report Member."
• On a member's profile: Click the three dots next to their photo and select "Report Member."

ShareWell will review the report, may contact both parties for more information, and take appropriate action based on the findings. Reporting remains anonymous.

Restrict a Member

To ensure a positive environment, ShareWell allows members to restrict interactions with specific individuals. Restriction is not an indication of wrongdoing but reflects personal comfort levels. To restrict:

• During a group: Click the participant's photo and select "Restrict Member." The restriction takes effect after the group concludes.
• On a member's profile: Click the three dots next to their photo and choose "Restrict Member."

Effects of Restriction:

• Inability to participate in future groups with the restricted member.
• Inability to view or respond to their discussion posts.
• If the restricted member is a host, their groups will be invisible and inaccessible to you.

To remove a restriction, go to the member's profile, click the three dots next to their photo, and select "Unrestrict Member."

If you have been restricted, respect the other member's need for space. Violating their boundaries or attempting to circumvent the restriction is prohibited and will result in suspension. The following actions are considered unacceptable:

• Harassment, bullying, or attempting to contact a restricted peer on or off the ShareWell platform.
• Discussing your restriction or the specific behavior of a member who restricted you in ShareWell groups, chats, or forums.
• Trying to circumvent the restriction in any form or manner.

Understanding Restriction:

We acknowledge that being restricted can be an adjustment and cause hurt feelings. Please remember that restriction does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing on your part, but rather reflects a member's decision to take a break from attending groups together. Each person has unique triggers, and the restriction feature is in place to prevent uncomfortable situations.

Confidentiality and Community Harmony:

We treat all restrictions as confidential out of respect for our members and expect that all parties involved maintain confidentiality. Reasons for member restrictions are never disclosed to the restricted. Any attempt to create animosity within the community or breach confidentiality will be considered a violation of ShareWell's community rules. Please note that restrictions are typically temporary and common in platforms like ours to ensure a positive peer-support experience for everyone.

Remove from a Group

Hosts may remove participants for disrespectful or disruptive behavior. Once removed, a member cannot rejoin that specific group but can join future groups. To remove:

• Click the participant's photo.
• Select "Remove Member."

Hosts are encouraged to provide a warning before removal when possible.

Mute from Chat

Hosts may mute a member from the chat if their participation becomes unsupportive or disruptive to the group. Once muted, the member will no longer be able to send messages in the chat, ensuring a healthier environment for everyone. To mute a member from chat:

• Hover over their message.
• Click the three dots next to their message.
• Select the chat icon with an "X" next to it.
• If needed, you can mute all members to close out communication in the chat.

Delete Chat Message

Hosts may delete a member’s chat message if it is deemed unsupportive or offensive. If a message is triggering or violates guidelines, the host can remove it. To delete a chat message:

• Hover over the message.
• Click the "trash can" icon.
• This helps maintain a safe and respectful environment within the group.

Host Etiquette

As the leaders and facilitators of our community, hosts must set the standard by consistently modeling respectful behavior, active listening, and support. They should ensure groups remain constructive, safe, and supportive for all participants by adhering to all platform policies. If issues arise:

• Report: Use the reporting guidelines mentioned above.
• Reach Out:
  • Support: For technical issues or immediate hosting concerns, contact support@sharewellnow.com.
  • Host Support Circle: For guidance or feedback for ShareWell staff, participate in a Host Support Circle.

Prepare for Groups

Hosts are encouraged to attend three peer support groups with different hosts to gain a deeper understanding of ShareWell's culture and dynamics. Being well-prepared means being familiar with the platform's rules and guidelines, managing time effectively, and fostering a positive environment while confidently addressing any potential disruptions.

Active Engagement

Hosts should maintain a strong, neutral presence during groups, encouraging all participants to share their lived experiences, ask for support, and respectfully listen to one another. Hosts should intervene in cases of disruptive behavior and moderate conversations to uphold the guidelines.

Foster Inclusivity

Hosts should actively encourage inclusivity, recognizing and respecting the diversity of lived experiences within the group. Discrimination or exclusion of any kind should not be tolerated. ShareWell provides free DEI Training to all peers.

Maintain Confidentiality and Privacy

Hosts must model confidentiality and ensure that all members respect each other's privacy, both inside and outside of groups. Professional hosts may include their company website on their profile but should refrain from sharing personal contact details to prevent unsafe communication dynamics.

Model Healthy Boundaries

Hosts must be aware of the importance of establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries and should guide members in respecting their emotional, physical, and psychological space within the platform. If a host notices a situation getting overwhelming, it’s vital to practice self-care and take space if needed.

Guide New Members

Hosts should offer clear guidance on using the platform's safety features, reporting functions, and general community rules. When needed, they should direct members to appropriate resources for additional mental health support outside the ShareWell platform.

Manage Conflicts Constructively

Hosts should step in if conflicts or disruptive behavior arise, ensuring an atmosphere of respect and mutual understanding is upheld. Hosts are expected to remain calm, provide clarity, and re-establish boundaries to ensure everyone's well-being.

Emergency Procedures

In rare and urgent cases, such as disclosures of self-harm or threats to safety, hosts must quickly take action to ensure the individual is connected to emergency services. Hosts should also share ShareWell’s Safety Resources and report the situation to the ShareWell team following safety protocols. ShareWell provides a free Host Training, which includes a module on how to respond to emergency situations effectively.